Ankara: Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with his Japanese counterpart, Toshimitsu Motegi, in Turkey to discuss strengthening bilateral ties and trilateral cooperation with the United States, as reported by Seoul's foreign ministry on Wednesday. The meeting, which occurred on Tuesday in Ankara during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, was part of an ongoing dialogue following a three-way meeting involving Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the discussions between Cho and Motegi centered on deepening bilateral relations and expanding collaborative efforts between their countries. They highlighted the importance of "shuttle diplomacy" between their leaders, which has been instrumental in fostering cooperation across various sectors. Both diplomats emphasized the need to build on this momentum, ensuring that citizens from both nations experience the benefits directly.

The recent dialogue is a continuation of talks held at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, in October. During the trilateral meeting, Cho, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Motegi reiterated their commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and maintaining dialogue with North Korea.

Furthermore, the three countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance cooperation on the deployment of small modular reactors (SMR) in the Indo-Pacific region, signifying a commitment to joint efforts in addressing regional energy needs.